One of the most common causes for a mature tree to fall in a storm is a hollow trunk. The lack of solid wood makes it very likely to fall over.

Written by

Richard Poffenbaugh
CentralOhio.com

A tree with a weak structure is a prime candidate for severe storm damage. The damage may be so severe it destroys the entire tree. Whether by strong wind, heavy ice or snow, a tree will likely suffer severe damage. The entire tree may come down or have large limbs break off.

A common defect of older trees is a hollow trunk. Once a tree has some type of opening in the bark/wood, year after year water enters and the wood begins to rot. From the outside a trunk may look normal, even though the inside is hollow. The outer bark masks the defective interior wood.